Why?

It has begun.

"Jonah, we need to wash your blanket."

"Why?"

"Because it's dirty"

"Why?"

"Because you sleep with it every night."

"Why?"

"Because it brings you great comfort and helps you relax."

"Why?

"According to my research, the growth and change you're experiencing can give you a sense of mental chaos and uneasiness, and your blanket can be comforting...."

*********

What did he want me to say?

All in a Day's Work

I worked yesterday. I enjoyed myself.

I was overwhelmed while interviewing a 17 year old boy with a brain tumor. It's benign, but he's had two brain surgeries, radiation, and chemotherapy and sat in the office telling me all about it.

He's partially paralyzed on his right side as a result.

So much of what I normally discuss in an interview seemed trivial. What's his potential for leadership, academic success, etc.? While his peers have been involving themselves in activities to fatten their college applications, he's been in physical/occupational therapy sessions, learning to walk again.

We had a good conversation about the ways he's been able to see God at work, but he was slow at answering my questions due to his brain's inability to process information quickly, and I wanted to be sensitive to the effort it took him to have a conversation.

Interviews like this remind me of why I love working in admissions. I felt challenged to live life with a positive attitude, I felt intense love for my own children, and I felt so thankful that I have a healthy family...all in a day's work.

Farmer Steve

A man named Steve farms the land surrounding our new subdivision. Mike asked Farmer Steve if Jonah could have a ride in his combine. They took about a 45 minute trip. What a great experience in our front yard!

Nightmare

I'm a little late in telling this story...

It was Halloween night. Jonah was having a nightmare. I rushed to his side, cuddled with him for a bit, and returned to my bed. I lied in bed thinking, "Did they talk about something in reference to Halloween at school?...should we rethink our family's decision to participate in trick or treat?...I hate that I can't shelter him more." The next morning I asked him about it.

Traci: You had a nightmare last night, Buddy. Do you remember what it was about?

Jonah: Little People


Oh, what trauma!

This May Not Look Like Much to You...

...but it's a big deal to me!

Jonah has been playing outside with our new neighbors. They have three boys, and he gets so excited to spend time outdoors with them. He's constantly asking if he can go outside and play with Dawson, their four year old.

I've been waiting for the day when he would want to explore our "backyard."

They were marching with weeds in their hands and "fishing" in a small puddle.

I'm not accustomed to him playing apart from me. It's a wonderful thing.

Old Navy Disaster

Jonah's head got pinned under a cart at Old Navy this morning. I saw it happen. While I waited in the check-out line, he walked over to a cart and tried to stand on its side. The cart was empty and fell over, knocking him down with his head stuck under it.

His nose bled, and he cried hard for about.... 10 seconds.

The manager wanted to fill out an accident report. I said it wasn't necessary.

I asked if he wanted to stay at the mall or go home. He wanted to stay at the mall.

He's a tough kid.

A Game of Tag

I've been tagged by my friend, Amy, so I must tell you seven unusual/interesting things about myself. This may be the first time I've admitted some of these things publicly.

1. My husband tells me I have a peculiar way of brushing my teeth. I apparently need to rinse my right hand in the water throughout the tooth-brushing process, giving it a swift rotating movement with a palsy-like hand.

2. I can't eat around dogs or cats. I can't eat if my napkin, cup, or plate has dogs or cats on it. I lose my appetite around household pets.

3. I got a tattoo of a flower on my first date weekend with Mike.

4. I moan unconsciously while eating cereal. My dad said I did this during high school when I would eat breakfast across the table from him every morning. Mike will imitate me with a faint, short moan when I eat cereal next to him now. I don't know I'm doing it. I think they're making the whole thing up--

5. I tap dance and just quit lessons when I moved here.

6. I don't eat eggs. When I was little I wondered what the difference was between the eggs that hatch chicks and the eggs we eat. I heard the eggs we eat were unfertilized eggs; therefore, in my warped mind, I believe we eat chickens' periods. That disgusts me.

7. The "monster" in my bedroom when I was young was E.T. That weird creature was on the floor next to my bed every night when I was little. I slept with the door open in case I needed to make a quick exit and get away from him.


Tag-- you're it: (I don't have an easy way to hyperlink on my Mac computer)

Tiberi's Villa
Smith Family Wobinson
Thoughts from the Sidelines
In the Middle of Nowhere
The Souzis Bunch


Smith Files, I'm sparing you.

Zoo Boo

We went to Zoo Boo yesterday with our friends, Tim and Mel, and their children. Contrary to their faces in this picture, the kids had a great time!

At the Playground

Pictures

We had our family pictures taken last weekend. We don't have the proofs yet, but our amazing photographer posted some of our pictures on her blog. Check them out.

Picture of the Day

Cousins

My Drug of Choice

I sit alone tonight after watching the kids all day. Mike left at 5:30 a.m. and has to work until 10:00 p.m. I call Mike at work. I neeeeeed something to make me feel better.

"You make the call," he says.

I call.

He sneaks out of work and calls me when he turns on our road.

I see the headlights approaching and run to the end of our dark driveway.

He rolls down the window.

I see it.

I grab it.

I tell him I love him.

I run back inside.

He returns to work.

...

A Chocolate Peanut Plus shake makes any day better.

Pumpkin Patch with Preschool

Today

Mike needed a family picture for work today. We get professional pictures taken on Sunday. I think we need to teach the kids to look at the camera in the next two days!

Grammy

My mom visited this week. It's amazing how much easier life is when Grammy is here. She's such a big part of my kids' lives that I don't have to give her instructions on what Lydia can eat or explain Jonah's bedtime routine-- she knows. She's a "hands-on" grandma, and I am so thankful for that.

You've heard of a horse whisperer; my mom is a kid whisperer. The kids prefer her, and I don't mind one bit.

This week, we're thankful for:

silly string from Hobby Lobby
folding laundry so neatly
milkshakes at McDonalds
special popcorn before bed
ironing Mike's dress shirts
etc.
etc.

So when are you coming back, Mom? :)

Daddy's Lunch Break

Mrs. In Your Face

It seems like all my writing energy has been directed at Jonah's new teacher. She has a notebook that she writes messages to me every evening, and I spend way too much time responding to her; hence, I haven't had time to blog.

I've become one of THOSE parents. His teacher has been on the defensive and even said that no one had ever "questioned her ability before."

oops.

I've determined there are two key elements missing from school this year: the teacher's willingness to have the patience, positive attitude, and energy it takes to connect with Jonah and a structured, creative program that keeps him challenged.

The area's special education co-op just posted a position for another teacher's aide in Jonah's classroom as a result.

I'm hopeful for more change.

They think I'm Mrs. In Your Face.

If they only knew...

Thank You

I'm overwhelmed. Thanks so much for your phone calls, prayers, emails, and comments regarding Jonah. He had a really good morning. Before he left for school, I showed him the smile on my face.

I worry sometimes about being too vulnerable on my blog, but I'm also grateful that I can share my heart with all of you.

Thanks for your continued encouragement.

Jonah

Jonah needs your prayers. We need your prayers. It seems that the last three months are finally catching-up with us. I haven't mentioned it much on the blog, but Jonah has had an increasingly hard time adjusting to the move.

Initially, Jonah often talked about friends in Alma: Lauren, Deitrich, Sammy, Adam, Danny.... He was difficult to handle but I explained this away because he needed school, structure, playmates, activity. But school has started-- and he's gotten worse. It seems that he's angry about our move, and he's angry about his new school.

We received a letter from his teacher last week that cautiously told of his aggression with kids in his class. Then last week our sweet babysitter called me at the admissions office in tears because Jonah was having an angry meltdown and she couldn't get him to stop (it had been going on for an hour before she called).

I'm so sad for Jonah. After the babysitter left, I asked him why he was angry. He said, "I wanted some quiet time."

He's learning how to self-regulate and knowing that he can communicate his needs to us is good-- but it doesn't help when he's raging.

I've spent naptime today just perusing the internet. There are so many resources available. I even found a mom's retreat for mothers of kids with Sensory Processing Disorder. I immediately cried just thinking what it would be like to connect with other moms that have the same frustrations and concerns as myself.

Our immediate answer is a private occupational therapist. I breathe a sigh of relief just thinking about it. I'm not sure about the cost of therapy, driving 45 minutes to a pediatric facility, or paying for a babysitter for Lydia, but I do know that school's not the answer right now. We need to do something more.

I cried to a dear friend earlier this week. I'm just burdened and emotionally exhausted. I often repeat "God gave him to us because we're the best parents for him. God gave him to us because we're the best parents for him. God gave him to us because we're the best parents for him," but I hadn't really thought before about what God was teaching me by giving me Jonah.

My friend told me the answer to that question: I can't worry about what other people think.

That's hard for this people-pleasing, type A, perfectionist. I like to be liked. I want others to like my kids. I don't want others to judge me because of my son's behavior.

These thoughts consume me and wear me down.

So pray for him. Pray for Mike. And pray for me.